Transcript The efforts to enhance re

The efforts to enhance
regional innovation in a
developing European Region:
the case of Western Greece
Dr. Stefanos Michos
Regional Development Fund
Region of Western Greece
Overview

Western Greece at a glance
 Short profile of RDF-RWG
 General information about the region
 Basic regional economic data
 Brief SWOT analysis
 Regional innovation strategy
 The four (4) most important regional innovation projects
 Main achievements (INN•ACT, WISE)
 Expected outcomes (INNOREF, FILES)
 Good practices
 Conclusions
10/10/2006
DG REGIO, Brussels
2
PATRAS
Olympic
city for
2004,
cultural
capital of
Europe
for 2006,
the centre
of the
Region.
Short profile of RDF-RWG

Supervised by the Ministry of
Administration and Decentralization

President of the Management Board is the Secretary
General of the Region

Objectives:



Interior,
Public
The management of credits pertaining to the Public Investment
Programme; the management of financing coming from
government or other legal entities, the administration of
appropriations regarding EC Programmes, International
Organisations and other foreign bodies with respect to the
corresponding development plans of the Region
The provision of technical assistance for the Region, which
implies the elaboration of studies and surveys
The participation in EC Programmes
10/10/2006
DG REGIO, Brussels
5
General information
about the region
Area
11.350 km2, covering 8,6 % of the total
country area.
Population
723.000 people, making it the fourth
largest (in population) region in
Greece, accounting for 6,8 % of the
country total. About 45,1 % of the
population is urban, 11,4 % is semirural and 43,5 % is rural.
Administration Three Prefectures, namely Achaia, Ileia
and Aetoloakarnania, which are
further divided to 72 Municipalities
and 2 Communities. The largest
Municipality is Patras, with a
population
of
about
160.000
inhabitants.
10/10/2006
DG REGIO, Brussels
6
General information
about the region (cont.)
10/10/2006

For the most part the terrain is
mountainous (45,3%) or hilly
(25,6%), while only 29,1%
consists of plains

Variety of landscapes, from
alpine meadows to sandy
beaches and a unique network
of rivers and wetlands that
support a wide range of wildlife
(including golden eagles and
vultures)

RWG
is
a
modern
communications and transport
hub that connects Greece to the
rest of Europe (country’s main
gateway to Western Europe)
DG REGIO, Brussels
7
Basic regional economic data
GDP
5,2% of Greek GDP for 2001 (classified 6th
among the 13 Greek regions)
Per capita GDP
10.100 € for 2002 (79% of Greek average,
58% of EU25 [2001]) – Ranking 13th among
the 13 Greek Regions
GDP Composition
14% Primary sector
18% Secondary sector
68% Tertiary sector
Productivity
73% of EU15 average (72% for Greece)
10/10/2006
DG REGIO, Brussels
8
Brief SWOT analysis
Strengths
Weaknesses

Patras’ port is the main western gateway
of the country to the rest of Europe
 Highly qualified human potential due to
the numerous educational institutions,
which are situated in the region
 Considerable capabilities of providing
innovative services to local SMEs thanks to
the existence of highly specialised research
centres and institutes throughout the region

Opportunities
Threats


Strong interest in tourism investments
 Alignment
of
vocational
training
programmes with the labour market needs
 Local
Employment
Strategies
for
Employment Stimulation
 Exploitation
of capabilities for the
production and the promotion of services
on the edge of technology
10/10/2006
Research results are not sufficiently
disseminated in the production process
 Long-term
deindustrialization of the
region
 Lack of significant investments
 Existence
of intensive intraregional
disparities
 Lack of continuous vocational training in
new skills
Rapid reduction of labour force in the
agricultural sector
 Lack of sustainable training of employed
people in order to avoid professional scorn
 Stagnation of manufacturing sector
 Unwise
exploitation of the natural
resources and further downgrade of the
environment
DG REGIO, Brussels
9
Regional innovation strategy
Pilot innovative systems & services
Vehicle: Innovative Actions ERDF (2002-2004)
Innovative Measures ESF (2002-2004)
–>
–>
INN-ACT
WISE
Networking + integration to some extent + expansion
Vehicle: Regional Operational Programme (2000-2006)
Information Society (2003-2004)
Large-scale innovative integrated systems & services and new pilot
innovative systems & services
Vehicle: Information Society (2005-2007)
Interreg IIIC East (2004-2007)
Innovative Measures ESF (2005-2007)
Regional Operational Programme (2007-2013)
10/10/2006
DG REGIO, Brussels
–>
–>
INNOREF
FILES
10
The 4 most important regional
innovation projects
For more info
please see at: www.ptapde.gr/projects
10/10/2006
DG REGIO, Brussels
11
Main achievements (INN•ACT, WISE)
INN•ACT
WISE
 Establishment of strong and
 Analysis of the Region’s social and
permanent cooperation relationships
between the public and private sector
 Support of regional economy on
knowledge and technological
innovation
 Extensive use of ICT at the service
of regional development
 Exploitation of the rich research and
scientific potential in Western Greece
 Enhancement of high priority
regional sectors
economic data
 Creation of a dossier containing the
proposed employment strategy at the
regional level structured in Actions and
Measures, some of them are being
integrated to the Regional Operational
Program of Western Greece
 Creation of two guides presenting
the general implementation
methodology at local and regional
level
 Establishment of human networks
by local and regional bodies that
support the employment strategy at
the local level
10/10/2006
DG REGIO, Brussels
12
Expected outcomes (INNOREF, FILES)
INNOREF
FILES

 Intensification of the collaboration of
sustainable growth
 integration and cooperation of all
sectors
 initiation of a self-dynamic process
through a bottom-up approach, which
will allow the region to develop a selfsupporting economy
 increase of local initiatives
 attraction of external investments
 reinvestment of local capitals
 increase of professional knowledge
and competences, positive attitude
and image
10/10/2006
social partners to better manage
challenges to the regional economy

Promotion of vocational training

Creation of improved employment
opportunities
for
disadvantaged
groups

Encouragement
entrepreneurship
DG REGIO, Brussels
of
female
13
Good practices

Top-down process in defining high priority regional sectors

Bottom-up process in determining innovation “needs” – high
mobilisation of actors in the region

Elaboration of a master plan for regional development with short,
medium, and long-term complementary actions in the predetermined
priority regional sectors

Creation of a model of local employment strategy to confront the
acute unemployment issues

Cooperation of public and private sector in a balanced way

Continuous involvement of several highly advanced R&D companies
activated in Western Greece as well as University Departments and
Research Institutes on the edge of technology
10/10/2006
DG REGIO, Brussels
14
Conclusions
After 6 years of continuous and intense efforts in RWG, we
have surely managed to:







start making our region known to the EC, at least in regional
innovation issues;
establish a regional innovation pole at national level;
urge small firms to incorporate innovation in their production sector
in order to become really competitive;
cultivate an “innovation” culture, particularly to persons and
institutions not directly related to it;
plan a strategy with a more future-oriented perspective than before;
learn the value of strategic policy intelligence tools, such as roadmapping, technology assessment, foresight, benchmarking and
evaluation;
and, last but not least, understand that enhancing RTD and
innovation at the regional level is a tough job that is really worth
while.
10/10/2006
DG REGIO, Brussels
15
Thank you very much
for
your attention!
Email contact: [email protected]
10/10/2006
DG REGIO, Brussels
16